Fresh Air Summary: The Dominance & Decline Of The Condé Nast Magazine Empire

Podcast Information:

• Title: Fresh Air
• Host: Terry Gross and Tonya Mosley
• Episode: The Dominance & Decline Of The Condé Nast Magazine Empire
• Release Date: July 17, 2025
• Guest: Michael Grinbaum, author of Empire of the Inside Condé Nast: The Media Dynasty that Reshaped America and a correspondent for the New York Times covering media, politics, and culture.

Introduction to Condé Nast's Golden Era

Michael Grinbaum opens his discussion by highlighting the immense cultural influence wielded by Condé Nast during its peak. He states:

"At the peak of its powers, Condé Nast cultivated a mystique that captivated tens of millions of subscribers across four continents with brands that became international symbols of class and glamour."
[00:00]

Grinbaum draws parallels between Condé Nast and the great Hollywood studios of the 1930s, emphasizing its role as a "culture factory" that disseminated visions of luxury and good taste nationwide.

Anna Wintour's Transition and Its Significance

Terry Gross introduces the topic by asking about Anna Wintour stepping down as American Vogue's editorial director after 37 years while retaining her global titles.

"She is stepping down from the role of editor in chief of Vogue magazine, which she has held since 1988. And it is a sign that the company is now starting to think about succession."
[02:11]

Grinbaum explains that this move signals a major transitional moment for Condé Nast amidst declining print readership and the rise of social media influencers:

"Conde Nast was, I argue, one of the great cultural institutions of 20th century America... how such a powerful group of cultural tastemakers could so miss the changes in our culture and end up in this attenuated state that they're in today."
[02:55]

Financial Extravagance and Its Consequences

The conversation shifts to Condé Nast's extravagant spending under Cy Newhouse, the company's owner, and how it affected the company's profitability.

"All of the spending to outsiders seemed irrational and made no sense. How could you be splashing out so much for fashion shoots and editors and writers to have these luxurious lives?"
[10:05]

Grinbaum recounts an anecdote illustrating this excess:

"They spent $30,000 to rent an elephant, which they trucked from Connecticut down to Brooklyn for the photo shoot."
[10:28]

Despite these lavish expenditures being part of a business model aimed at creating a fantasy for readers and advertisers, Condé Nast's profits were alarmingly thin compared to its rivals.

Condé Nast's Role in Elevating Donald Trump

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on how Condé Nast, particularly through GQ, played a pivotal role in catapulting Donald Trump into national fame.

"This was one of the first major national magazine articles that featured him. It was a huge pop cultural phenomenon at the time."
[16:59]

Grinbaum elaborates on the strategic promotion of Trump, including the influential GQ profile and the subsequent publishing of The Art of the Deal by Random House, an initiative driven by Sy Newhouse, owner of Condé Nast.

Creation and Impact of the Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Graydon Carter's tenure as editor of Vanity Fair is highlighted, particularly his creation of the highly influential Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

"Graydon thought, well, somebody needs to host this party. Maybe Vanity Fair could be a part of it."
[21:58]

The party became a staple of Oscar night, blending Hollywood glamour with exclusive access, thereby cementing Vanity Fair's place in the upper echelons of media and celebrity culture.

Evolution of Vogue Under Different Editors

Grinbaum compares the editorial shifts at Vogue, from Grace Mirabella to Anna Wintour, illustrating the magazine's adaptation to changing cultural tastes.

"Anna Wintour put Madonna on an early cover of her magazine... that starts a period where celebrities really fill the pages of Vogue."
[29:00]

Under Wintour, Vogue embraced a blend of high and low culture, integrating celebrities into fashion journalism, which significantly boosted the magazine's appeal and sales.

The Met Gala: A Symbol of Fashion and Philanthropy

Anna Wintour's establishment of the Met Gala is discussed as one of her major achievements, transforming it into a grand spectacle that raises substantial funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Fashion Institute.

"She saw it as a place where she could bring the biggest fashion designers and kind of mingle them with the biggest celebrities."
[31:03]

Despite its success, Grinbaum notes Graydon Carter's critique of the Gala as becoming a "tax for access" to the fashion elite, highlighting the complex interplay between charity and exclusivity.

Condé Nast's Acquisition and Transformation of The New Yorker

The acquisition of The New Yorker by Condé Nast and the subsequent editorial changes are examined, revealing the tensions between preserving traditional journalism and adapting to modern demands.

"David Remnick encouraged the family to invest in an online website, and they introduced a paywall... it really is a success story that is now one of the Condé magazines that... was turning a profit."
[43:46]

Grinbaum emphasizes the importance of the paywall and strategic investments in reviving The New Yorker, showcasing the enduring power of quality journalism.

Personal Influence and Early Experiences

Towards the end of the interview, Grinbaum shares a personal anecdote about his early fascination with Condé Nast magazines, illustrating how media can shape one's aspirations and understanding of influence.

"It was like this firsthand experience where I realized that media kind of allowed a writer to... have some sway on the world around them."
[45:09]

This reflection underscores the profound impact that Condé Nast's publications had not only on culture but also on individual career paths.

Conclusion

Throughout the episode, Michael Grinbaum provides a comprehensive analysis of Condé Nast's rise, cultural dominance, and eventual decline in the face of financial challenges and the digital revolution. His insights reveal how a once-indispensable media empire struggled to maintain its relevance in a rapidly changing landscape, offering valuable lessons on media adaptation and cultural influence.

Notable Quotes:

• "Conde Nast was, I argue, one of the great cultural institutions of 20th century America..."
  [02:55]

• "They spent $30,000 to rent an elephant, which they trucked from Connecticut down to Brooklyn for the photo shoot."
  [10:28]

• "It was a huge pop cultural phenomenon at the time."
  [16:59]

• "Graydon thought... Maybe Vanity Fair could be a part of it."
  [21:58]

• "It was like this firsthand experience where I realized that media kind of allowed a writer to have some sway on the world around them."
  [45:09]

This structured summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who have not listened to the podcast.